I picked up a set of red high back bucket seats with matching console out of a 1984 Ford Bronco. I traded the owner my bench seat which came out of a 1980's Ford f-series extended cab pickup plus an old 22 rifle I had laying around. He also gave me the horn cover, which has cruise control which I really needed as mine was all busted up and you cannot purchase them after market with the cruise option. I spent the last few days making seat and console brackets, getting everything painted and I got them installed this afternoon.

I know it is not correct for the year, but I have made a sort of customized "Ranger" out of my old pickup. At this point other than the body, nothing else is close to being stock or original to a 1965 so I figured there was no sense in putting the period correct Mustang bucket seats. Plus these are a whole lot nicer to sit on than the old Mustang buckets. One of these days I will by the "Ranger" fender badges to complete the look.

Jeff

 

I'm a stock kind'a guy but I must admit that looks great. Very clean looking! Great job.

 

looks awesome!

 

Very impressive luxury seat's you got there. What's the steering column out of?

 

I was very pleased to find those seats. I love Craigs List as that is where I located them. I was going to purchase the entire Bronco as he only wanted $400.00 and it was very straight and in good shape. I was going to make a sand dune machine out of it, of corse swapping the seats to my pickup. That all fell through when I found out it did not have a title and he had purchased it from someone else out of state with out one. I did not want to hassle with tracking down a lost title so I passed on it. Then he asked if I would take any parts and that is when I got to trade parts.

As for the steering column it was out of a 1978 F-150 two wheel drive with power steering, tilt and cruise. It was a direct bolt in, but I did have to modify the dust boot/seal at the fire wall. I also had to swap connectors for the turn signals and figure out what wire goes where. I have yet to hook the cruise control up to my fuel injected engine but i will get to that sometime in the new year. I had a power steering column from a 1972 and I used spacers between the steering wheel mount and the dash, and I used the same spacers to install this column. I love having tilt and the steering wheel is about a half inch smaller in diameter than the older one so with a combo of that the steering wheel is now out of my lap which I love!

My old pickup is starting to come together!

Jeff

 

Nice Job!!

 

Yeah, no complaints here. Looks great and functions? DONE!!!

 

Jeff: What do you mean OLD TRUCK. Looks pretty good from here. Talk about born again............Good Job. Lets think this through.....Engine, check...Interior, check.....transmission, check.....I know it has tires so looks like almost ready for the road. Look forward to seeing it this summer when we set another meet and greet..........................Ross

 

FYI

In post #5, your say your column is from a 1978 F150 with Cruise.

1978/79 F100/350's & Bronco's with Cruise use the same horn pad as:

1980/83 F100's with Cruise / 1980/91 F150/350's, F(Super Duty) & Bronco's with Cruise / 1978/91 Econolines with Cruise.

Most peeps don't know the '78/79 pad is the same thru 1991, and also don't know that Econolines used the same one.

I don't know whether the 1978/91 pad is available in the aftermarket sector or not.

When you consider all the different models that used the same one, there may be some NOS Cruise horn pads available from obsolete parts vendors and dealers.

Then take into account the Econoline factor. Most peeps hunting parts in wrecking yards walk right past them with nary a look-see.

 

Not me Bill, (NumberDummy) I pull the taillight lense, steering wheel and other minor items as well. Haven't found one with the clear lense turn signals yet in my area, but been told those are a direct bolt on as well.

Thanks Jeff (BigBLock) for the reply about your steering hook up, I sure leary about crossing over on the wiring for turnsignals etc. I'm running pretty much stock set-up currently in my 65, minus engine & trans combo.

Mitch

 

Clear lens turn signals? What years are you refering to?

Can't be 1965/66, because Ford never offered them except in amber.

1973/77 perhaps?

If 1973/77, the lenses used on 1973/74's will not work on 1975/77's without modifications.

The 1973/74 clear lens is a separate part, and screws into the steel lamp body that has the socket swagged into it.

The 1975/76 clear lens/body is a one piece plastic assembly.

The socket is plastic, and is removable from the lamp.

All 1973/75's, 1976's before serial number C80,001 came with clear lenses and amber bulbs.

1976's after serial number C80,001, all 1977's came with amber lenses and clear bulbs.

The taillamps used on 1973/74's are not the same as 1975/79's used, even tho they look the same.

It's the same scenario as the parking lamps. Separate lens / steel body on 1973/74's. 1975/79 is a one piece assembly and is the same lamp the 1975/91 Econolines used.

 

Jeff
The seats and console look great. How did you mount the seats to the floorboard? Did you use a set of brackets? A picture or two would be great.
Thanks
Chris

 

65 66 Down under aussie units have clear TS lenses... And LMC is offering 65 66 clear units.

 

I had to make my own seat brackets to mount the seats. I should have taken pictures of the brackets before I installed the seats but I did not. I can show you a picture of the driver side outer bracket, which is the same as the passenger side only mirrored. I made the main supports using 3/8 inch thick plate and cut them to the shape I needed. the top of the brackets are made of 1/4 inch cold roll strips. I had to block the seat up in position with 2x4's and then use a tape measure to see how big everything needed to be. I then cut all the pieces and tack welded them together to make a test fit. Once I was happy with them I welded them up, primed and painted them. For the front holes on the outer brackets I used the factory bolt locations. All the other holes I had to drill the floor and use thick washer for additional support. For the inner brackets I welded the mounting bolts to the bracket that way one person would remove all the mounting hardware with no problems. Currently I have no slides on the seats as I had none and the ones with the Bronco seats were parts of the entire seat bracket. I have no need to move the seat forward as I am the only one who drives the pickup.

I purchased a plasma cutter last spring and along with my wire welder, it makes metal work pretty easy. The plasma cutter makes very clean cuts. Cutting torches and me do not get along.

Jeff